opinion

Whenever Mother’s Day comes round, not only my children but also factory colleagues and many strangers send me letters of sincere congratulation, though I am not an official of a power organ or a large factory but a staffer of a regional-industry factory. 

Our factory producing various kinds of vinyl products with recycled materials is well known to the country as an enterprise which thrives on the strength of self-reliance and as a small, yet important factory.

It took only ten years.

I pride myself on the factory because there has been a dramatic change in my life along with it.

I posed for a photo of glory with the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un which I had wanted in dreams, became a member of the Workers’ Party of Korea, took part in the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army and the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War as an activist in the traits of assisting the army, was honoured with the titles of Merited Accountant and meritorious person of socialist patriotism, and became a software maker. Thus I became not only beloved mother to my children but also a respected mother and true teacher of life to them.

In retrospect, what I wanted after having children was to bring them up healthily so that they could become decent persons for the country.

Every mother wants it, but it was really hard for me to bring up three children (two daughters and a son) that way during the Arduous March.

I strived to manage my household affairs and got my second daughter and son to stand at posts for defence of the country.

It was difficult for me to keep family alone, so I got the eldest daughter to stay with me after she finished middle school. One day, however, she told me she was going to volunteer to work at the construction site of the Huichon Power Station.

She said that young people were volunteering for the construction site of the large-scale hydroelectric power station which would take a big share in solving the problem of electricity in the country and that she did not want to lag behind them.

I tried to dissuade her, thinking only of my family affairs but in vain.

But I could not imagine that she grew in mind beyond recognition and became a famous poetess at the construction site that Chairman Kim Jong Il had visited although he was unwell and after returning to the country from a foreign visit.

As the Huichon Power Station was nearing completion, her poems further touched the heartstrings of the builders. And the state had her enrolled at the Korean language faculty at Kim Il Sung University, the highest university of the country.

And the second daughter became an announcer, the pride of her unit, and my son a model soldier and an officer.

Continuing the journey of assisting the eldest daughter at the construction site and the two other children at army posts, I was greatly encouraged by them.

And I thought.

Did the children grow so well thanks to merely my maternal affection? No.

I exerted myself, thinking that to the grown-up children I should become a mother lauded by society as well as a birth mother.

So I devoted my all energy to building our factory, a part of the country and a cornerstone that propels its advance, and to revitalizing and putting production and accounting on an IT basis day and night. With the firm determination I learned the method of programming at the age of 50 to develop a material management and accounting program. I took greater pleasure and pride in the progress of the factory than the successes of my children.

But, I am sure, my life today is unthinkable apart from the Workers’ Party of Korea which has inspired and led me lest I should feel fatigued, valued and glorified what I did as a citizen and lauded even my devotion to my children.

So, on Mother's Day, when children of the whole country congratulate their mothers, I extend sincere thanks to the Workers' Party of Korea, the mother who bestowed on me glory and happiness that even my own mother could not.

Hong Song Ae, staffer of the Kangson Vinyl Sheet Factory